Sebastian man, who threatened wife with a gun, chased down and arrested after hitting deputy’s car

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES were Mr. and Mrs. Joe Pennington. Shown l to r are Mitch Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Pennington, Eddie Rodriguez , President of the Stock show. At 11:10 a.m. Tuesday Willacy County Sheriff ’s deputies were called to a disturbance in Sebastian in reference to a man with a gun. When officers arrived at the scene they were informed that the suspect, Eric Vasquez, had left the area in a red Grand Am and was in possession of a weapon, type or caliber unknown. The wife of the suspect stated he threatened her with the weapon. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the suspect. He was believe to be headed to Harlingen where he has relatives.

About 15-20 minutes later a deputy was on his way home for lunch and was headed East on FM 490 when he saw the suspect’s vehicle coming West on FM 490. As the vehicle passed the deputy, he made a U-turn and the suspect’s vehicle accelerated and the chase began. The suspect’s vehicle continued West on FM 490 to Expressway 77 and on to Bus. 77 where it turned South and raced into the City of Lyford. At this time other units took up the chase as well, including DPS, Deputies, and Constables units.

STOCK SHOW QUEEN MICHELLE ROMO AND FIRST RUNNER UP CARI KLOSTERMANN The suspect’s vehicle drove into Lyford in the area of 2nd and Park St., where it circled the block several times before going to County Road 200 then South to Sebastian where the suspect continued south until he reached CR 200 and FM 506 then he turned west. He drove west on FM 506/FM 2629 until he reached FM 1425 (Kika De La Garza Rd./Sugar Mill Rd.) At FM 1425 suspect turned south until he reached the levy where he turned east.

He then headed east on the levy at a high rate of speed with units in pursuit. Some units broke away from the chase to race toward the Expressway to try and cut the vehicle off at the other end of the levy. As they arrived at the floodway and Exp. 77 and went under the floodway they could see the suspect’s vehicle approaching from the west. As the suspect’s vehicle exited the levy he drove around one vehicle and hit a deputy’s car head-on, causing damage to the front end of the patrol car. All the other units arrived and the suspect was taken from the vehicle at gunpoint and placed under arrest. The deputy was taken to the hospital to be checked out, but was treated and released.

While searching the suspect’s person for weapons he was found to have marijuana and a substance believed to be cocaine. The suspect was transported to Willacy County Jail for processing and his vehicle was impounded. The weapon was not found, it was believed to have been tossed out. However, a clip containing 9mm shells were located along with a box of shells.

The suspect’s name is Eric Jason Vasquez of Sebastian. He was born in 1985 and is being charged with the following charges: Possession of marijuana; possession of controlled substance, to wit: cocaine; evading arrest with a motor vehicle; aggravated assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon (vehicle). Arraignment set for Feb. 3, 2010.